Valance supporting device



June 6, 1956 R. H. HUMMERT ETAL 2,752,117

VALANCE SUPPORTING DEVICE Filed Jan. 19, 1952 IN V EN TORS P056187 6 HUM/WEE T THE/E 477'0F/VEY United States Patent Oce Patented June 26, 1956 VALANCE SUPPORTING DEVICE Robert H. Hummert and Ralph P. Halpin, Dayton, Ohio, assignors to Standard-Thomson Corporation, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application January 19, 1952, Serial No. 267,242

Claims. (Cl. 248-255) This invention relates to a valance supporting device and more particularly to an end cap for a valance which is adapted to support both the valance and the curtain or drapery supporting elements which are associated with the valance. The invention may be used in various 1ocations and in association with windows of various kinds but the present embodiment thereof is designed more particularly for use in vehicles where space is limited and ease of assembly and installation is important, such as ambulances and hearses.

One object of the invention is to provide a valance supporting device which can be easily installed and on which the valance and associated parts may be mounted in the course of installation.

A further object of the invention is to provide an end cap for a valance of such a character that the valance and curtain supports may be easily and quickly attached thereto and will be firmly retained thereon.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a cap which may be molded, or otherwise formed, in one piece.

Other objects of the invention may appear as the device is described in detail.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a valance supporting device showing the valance and curtain supporting elements mounted thereon, and partly broken away; Fig. 2 is an elevation of the inner side of one of the end caps showing the valance in section; and Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of one of the end pieces.

In these drawings we have illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention but it is to be understood that the caps may take various forms and may be connected with the valance and curtain supports in various ways.

In the particular embodiment here shown the device comprises two opposed end members 5 and 6, herein referred to as end caps, having means whereby they may be individually secured to a wall or other structure on which the valance is to be supported. The valance may take various forms but as shown at 7 it comprises an elongate member having its intermediate portion curved about a longitudinal axis and having a substantially horizontal rear portion 9 and a substantially vertical front portion 10.

The two end caps are substantially identical in con struction except that 5 is a right hand member and 6 is a left hand member and the corresponding parts of the we members are adapted to be supported in line one with the other. In the particular form here shown the end cap comprises a substantially fiat outer wall 11 and a relatively narrow inwardly extending edge wall. The edge wall includes a substantially flat rear Wall 12 provided with means whereby it may be secured to a supporting structure or wall, such as a slotted inwardly exending lug 13 and an outwardly extending apertured lug 14. A combined top and front wall extends forwardly and downwardly from the upper end of the rear wall and conforms substantially in shape to the contour of the valance. Thus, in the present instance this combined Wall has a substantially horizontal forwardly extending part 15 and a substantially vertical lower part 16, the two parts being connected by an arcuate portion 17.

Each end portion of the valance is supported in overlapping relation to the walls 17 of the respective end caps and preferably extends into the caps, and the combined top and front walls of the two caps therefore are provided with inner surfaces which correspond closely to the exterior contour of the valance. The upper end of the rear wall 12 is thickened, as shown at 18, and provided within the cap with a forwardly facing groove 19 adapted to receive the upper longitudinal edge portion of the valance. A similar groove is provided in the lower front portion of the cap to receive the lower 1ongitudinal edge portion of the valance. In the arrangement shown the edge wall includes a bottom portion 20 which extends inwardly from the lower portion 16 of the front wall and is provided with a groove 21 to receive the adjacent edge of the valance.

A vertical wall 22 extends upwardly from the wall 20 and is connected by a horizontal wall 23 with the rear wall 12. A projection or stud 24 extends inwardly from the outer end wall 11 of the cap and is provided with an opening 25 to receive the pintle, not shown, of a curtain roller 26 which may be of conventional form and which supports a curtain 26. The stud and the end wall are reinforced by radial ribs 27 and 28 which are preferably formed integral with the end wall and with the stud. The ribs 27 are rigidly connected respectively with the wall 23 and the rear wall 12, but the ribs 28 terminate in spaced relation to the rear top and front wall so as to provide space for the valance 7.

The bottom wall 20 extends inwardly beyond the upright wall 22 and is provided with an upwardly facing groove 29 which is adapted to receive one end of a bar 34) which supports drapery 31.

The end caps may be formed of any suitable material in any suitable manner but preferably they are molded from a material of relatively light weight but of ample strength, such as a plastic material.

The device may be assembled with the valance and curtain supports in any suitable manner. Preferably the assembly is effected during the installation of the device, as by mounting one end cap on the wall on which the valance is to be mounted, as by the apertured lug 14 of that cap. The other cap may be loosely supported on the wall for limited movement toward and from the first mentioned cap, as by the slotted lug 13. Adjacent ends of the curtain roller, drapery bar and the valance may then be inserted in the proper places in the first mentioned cap and the other ends thereof then inserted in the last mentioned cap, which is then movable toward the first mentioned cap to enable the same to be moved over the adjacent ends of said part. When the last mentioned cap has been moved toward the first mentioned cap to effect full engagement of the respective ends of the several parts with both caps, the last mentioned cap may be rigidly secured to the wall by the aperture lug Thus, the assembly and installation of the device may be quickly and easily effected, even in a restricted space.

While we have shown and described one embodiment of our invention we wish it to be understood that we do not desire to be limited to the details thereof as various modifications may occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having fully described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. An end cap for a valance comprising an end wall, a rear wall integral with the end wall, an edge wall having an arcuate inner surface joining a vertical portion and a horizontal portion conforming substantially to the contour of the adjacent end portion of said valance and adapted to receive the same, grooved elements within and fixed with relation to said cap to engage the longi tudinal edges of said valance and position the latter with relation to said edge wall, and a lug having a slottherein, the lug being attached to the rear wall and extending therefrom for adjustably securing said cap to a structure on which said valance is to be mounted.

2. An end cap for a valance comprising an end wall, an edge wall having an arcuate inner surface conforming substantially to the contour of the adjacent end portion of said valance and adapted to receive the same, said edge wall having parts extending inwardly therefrom at the respective ends of said conforming surface and provided with transversely disposed grooves to receive the longitudinal edge portions of said valance and guide the latter to a predetermined position with relation to said edge wall, said end wall of said cap having a part having a circular recess projecting inwardly therefrom to receive and support the adjacent end of a curtain rod, said edge wall also having a projection provided with a recess to receive and support the adjacent end of a drapery supporting bar, and adjustable means for securing said cap to a structure on which said valance is to be mounted. t

3. A supporting structure for a valance comprising an end member having an arcuateedge wall provided with a curved inner surface conforming substantially to the contour of said valance and adapted to receive an end portion of said valance within the same, and also having adjacent said edge wall parts normally disposed to engage the longitudinal edges of said valance and support the latter substantially in contact with said inner surface, said end member having circular portions for supporting the end of a curtain roller, said end member having grooved portions for supporting a drapery supporting bar, and the end member also having means whereby it may be secured to a structure on which said valance is to be mounted.

4. A supporting structure for a valance comprising an end member having an outer end wall and an edge wall including an upright rear portion adapted to be secured to a supporting structure, and a forwardly and downwardly extending portion having an arcuate inner surface abutting said valance and conforming substantially to the contour of said valance, said edge wall having adjacent the upper and lower ends of said forwardly and downwardly extending portion thereof, recesses extending transversely to said edge wall to receive longitudinal edge portions of said valance and support the latter substantially in contact with said portion of said edge wall, a part carried by and extending inwardly from the end wall of the end member in spaced relation to said edge wall and having an opening therein to receive the pintle of a curtain roller, the end member also having a lower wall extending rearwardly from the lower edge of said forwardly and downwardly extending portion of said edge wall, and having a recess extending transversely thereto to receive and support a drapery supporting bar.

5. An end capfor a valance comprising a one-piece structure including an end wall, an edge wall secured to said end wall and having an upright part adapted to be secured to a supporting structure, a forwardly and downwardly extending part having an arcuate inner surface abutting said valance and conforming substantially to the contour of the end portion of the valance, said edge wall having at the upper and lower ends of said forwardly and downwardly extending part thickened portions provided with recesses transverse to said edge wall to receive longitudinal edge portions of said valance and support the same substantially in engagement with said inner surface, a stud extending inwardly from said end wall and having an opening in the inner end thereof, reinforcing ribs rigidly secured to said stud and said end wall, those ribs adjacent said forwardly and downwardly extending part of said edge wall being spaced therefrom to permit the insertion of the end of said valance, said edge wall also having a lower portion extending rearwardly from the lower end of said forwardly and downwardly extending part thereof, and provided in its rear end and in spaced relation to said rear wall with a transverse recess to receive and support one end of a drapery supporting bar. 7

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 929,923 Drinkaus' Aug. 3, 1909 1,636,601 Givens July 19, 1927 1,918,415 Miller July 18, 1933 2,548,041 Morse Apr. 10, 1951 2,549,905 Jablon Apr. 24, 1951 

